PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Thursday said it was examining the option of approaching the Supreme Court against the Peshawar High Court over verdict to nullify non-party polls for village and neighbourhood councils in the province.

The statement comes as provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagara, Kamran Khan Bangash, Shahram Khan Tarakai and Shaukat Yousafzai met Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar SultanRaja in Islamabad.

According to the statement, the provincial government is examining the high court’s short order on the village and neighbourhood council elections.

Minister Bangash said the provincial government’s delegationmet the CEC and informed him about its stand on local body polls.

He said the KP government was serious about holding LB polls and had done necessary groundwork and legislation.

“We’re examining whether there is a need to amend the LG Act for polls,” he said.

He said the provincial government would consult on whether or not to approach the apex court against the high court verdict.

However, Mr Bangash said that final decision in this regard would be made by the provincial cabinet.

He said that they informed ECP about the provincial government stance and the commission asked them for more time to review the issue.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2021